Hey Bullshido,
I came across your site by accident but I saw this forum and thought you all might be able to help me answer some questions.

I went to Sombo/Sambo clinic the other day hosted by Joe Neely and Josh Henson at George Mason University in Virginia. I found out about Sombo through a Russian friend of mine who now lives in Virgina and recommended I check it out since I used to wrestle and now practice Judo from time to time. So I went to the clinic because it was free with a USAW card and had a strange experience.

I got a weird sense that two instructors running the clinic might not be entirely on the up and up.
Their names are Joe Neely and Josh Henson. Joe seemed more legit than Josh. He talked about himself less and taught more. Josh talked more and taught less.

According to to their bio's, Josh Henson (Virginia), 2xd U.S. National Sombo champion,
4x World team member (World Cup Silver medalist),
6x U.S. National Coach, Sombo Hall of Fame.Joe Neely (Kentucky), National Masters Champion,
5X U.S. National Coach, Past President U.S. Sombo
Association, Sombo Hall of Fame.

Maybe I don't know where to look but I cannot seem to verify any of their claims. For example, I can't find a U.S. Sombo Association.

Josh Henson did most of the talking and seemed more interested in talking than teaching. It was annoying how he wouldn't shut up about himself. Josh Henson also said he wrestled for Harvard, which is true, according to Harvard's website, See http://www.gocrimson.com/sports/wres...y/honorsawards ;

I Googled Josh Henson more because he is so odd and he wouldn't shut up and found this bio which appears to be self written and possibly not all true
See http://www.iisoh.org/501c3board.html

It's really long so I will just highlight the claims that can't be verified and seem untrue.

British national wrestling champion (1975) . Irish national wrestling champion (1975). Several time champion in Sombo and Aerobics, placed fifth in British University championships in Judo. Has a black belt in Jujitsu, competed in baseball, cross country running and fencing. Has coached wrestling at a Massachusettes private school, Harvard College, George Mason University and was coach for the Spanish Olympic Wrestling team in the 1984 LA Olympic Games.Earned the highest rankings as an international referree in Wrestling, Sombo and Aerobics, and has worked in hundreds of national and international sports events over the past 30 years. Named Man of the Year six times by different National AAU sports Committees from 1986 to 1996.... Past president of the International Aerobics Federation (FISAA), current president of the International Sombo Federation (FIAS), legal counsel to the International Bowling Federation (FIQ).

Wrestling, Judo, Sombo, bowling!(?); Aerobics!(?) Man of the Year 6 times!(?)...This all seems like bs to me. He certainly talks a good game and knows some things but doesn't seem like someone who accomplished all of the above and more. he also said he was some sort of black belt in karate (didn't specify which kind).

He is a Sombo coach and researched and compiled the records on his own.

11/02/2013 11:43am,

Shadowdean

Josh is legit. I used to train with him at American University with the Washington Wrestling Club. Dude's wrestling is legit.

11/27/2013 8:13pm,

blackmonk

Joe Neely is one of the only truly authentic American sambists. He was playing sambo when it was part of the AAU curriculum.

He began as a rather successful Greco guy, but then fell in love with sambo after he tried it at a Greco/Freestyle tournament, which usually also had sambo, at the time. I trained in Moscow with one of his guys earlier this year.

Don't know anything about Josh Henson.

12/05/2013 1:53pm,

blackmonk

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackmonk

Joe Neely is one of the only truly authentic American sambists. He was playing sambo when it was part of the AAU curriculum.

He began as a rather successful Greco guy, but then fell in love with sambo after he tried it at a Greco/Freestyle tournament, which usually also had sambo, at the time. I trained in Moscow with one of his guys earlier this year.

Don't know anything about Josh Henson.

Lol, I got bad-repped for expressing an opinion. Cool!

12/05/2013 2:18pm,

Omega Supreme

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackmonk

Lol, I got bad-repped for expressing an opinion. Cool!

People accidentally ding people and there's no way to go back and correct it.

12/05/2013 4:50pm,

It is Fake

If you only knew how many people ding posts on accident.

12/06/2013 12:37pm,

blackmonk

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omega Supreme

People accidentally ding people and there's no way to go back and correct it.

I thought that might be the case. I just got a chuckle out of it, either way.

They are both legit with long history is US Sambo (though less so in the last 10 years or so). Josh has not been very active, but he was a former president of FIAS and in large part is responsible for the building of the early sambo community in this country. His family has serious wrestling cred. Joe has kept his group alive (SomboJoe), but fairly insular during the last 10 years. But, he has gotten much more involved during the past year or so with the larger contemporary US Sambo Community. The claims made are likely true (I have not looked into them all, but don't feel I need to either). And, the USSA did exist. It went defunct in 2006. I co-hosted their last nationals in 2005. Having said all that, I have never trained with either one and can't speak to that.